ONE thing that always amazes me is how, at the drop of a hat, the topic of national service (NS) is brought up by those who want to justify that they 'deserve' more.

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NS is good. Don't always ask what the country can give you, ask yourself what you can truly contribute to the country first and do what you say you're going to do... this applies to everyone on earth regardless of nationality.

Nobody was serving NS at that time....... but now 30,000 people does that every year. For 24 months, some 30 months then, one has to disrupt one's life, education accept an allowance lower that is much lower than the average wage rate at fast food restaurants for most. Then for the next 12 months having to disrupt career, social appointment etc for in-camp etc. Shouldn't these folks deserve a lot more?
There are many PRs and 'new citizens' that are still combat fit, modern war fare does not require want to run around the hills or operate in dense jungles, shouldn't these 'new citizens' be voluntering to spend 2 years of their life defending this beautiful country?

To the Writer, Mr Raju.

Before we engaged on a long db on this subject, could you kindly please identify your Rank and Position and in which Unit of Command, ie Land, Air or Sea?.

I am a Reservist Lta ,now in my Fifties. was within the top 15% of OCS course. An Instructor posted back in OCS, then later to an SIR ,as a Dy, Battalion Staff.

Would you first hve the grace to let me know,yours, as without understanding on which level or side of the playing field or ground, it is not easy to cite examples and sacrifices each NS man had gone through.

I have know Reservist NS man, whoare in Banking, CEOs, Hawkers, Clerks, Insurance, etc.

Some examples of those mentioned above are Officers, some are ORs as Drivers, Cooks, Storeman, etc..

We need to calibrate each others "Set point" or "Start pt" inorder to carry on the db,meangingfully.

I awaiy your reply.

Thank you.

"ONE thing that always amazes me is how, at the drop of a hat, the topic of national service (NS) is brought up by those who want to justify that they 'deserve' more"

- coz thats about the only one thing they have ever done (and will ever do) to contribute to this nation.

NOT by choice either.

"ONE thing that always amazes me is how, at the drop of a hat, the topic of national service (NS) is brought up by those who want to justify that they 'deserve' more."

What amazes me is that the writer thinks that those serving NS do not deserve more. Has the letter-write served NS? Does he know what it involves? Easy for those not making the sacrifces to lightly dimiss the sacrifices of those who do. Anyway, the recognition given is rather limited at present - a bit of tax relief, assorted clubhouses, a hundred dollars more in GST offsets. Why is the writer so petty as to begrudge NSFs and NSmen this palty recognition that cannot begin to compensate for literally years of our lives?

We serve NS willingly (not necessarily happily), recognising its importance, and don't begrudge the time spent on it. Those who don't bear the load (and can't understand its cost and importance) should just shut up. Better still, GO HOME! You're only here to make a fast buck anyway - your 'contribution' is incidental to your mercernary money-grubbing. This means YOU, Raju Iyer.

NS is the privilege of citizens. They protect their country, they protect their fellow citizens in time of war. But now, we have been hit by an avalanche of foreigners, who are here precisely because of the "good security" . Our NSmen not only protect the country but also contribute to the country's economy. Foreigners are here only for economic reasons. So why should not citizens ask for and deserve "more".

Mr Raju,
I suggest one thing to you - shut your mouth, pack up and go back to your village to feed your cows.

Misnomer,

"....Foreigners are here only for economic reasons."

- so were your forefathers.

Raju Iyer

From your name I think we can conclude where you come from.

Your countrymen seem to be asking alot of this tiny red dot and also wherever they go. C'mon you are from a big country which is a potential "superpower" and always telling the world how good they are, why not remain there and contribute? Why come here to "contribute" to this tiny red dot? I am sure your country needs you so why turn your back on them?